Koke'e State Park, Protected forest with hiking trails in Kauai, United States
Koke'e State Park is a protected forest on Kauai with hiking trails that reach over 3,200 feet in elevation and cover roughly 4,000 acres. The network of paths moves through native Hawaiian rainforests and connects to stunning overlooks of Waimea Canyon, with routes suited to different fitness levels.
Native Hawaiians used these upland forests for generations to gather resources and travel through the region before the area became protected. The park was established to preserve the forest and its ecological value for the future.
Native Hawaiian plants like ohia lehua trees grow throughout the park and hold special meaning in local traditions and beliefs. Visitors walking the trails encounter these species, which remain important to the communities who have lived in these uplands for centuries.
The park is open to visitors year-round, and those planning to hike should bring layers since conditions are cooler at higher elevations and fog is common. Overnight camping requires advance permission, while day-trippers can enter freely.
The Alakai Swamp Trail takes hikers across wooden boardwalks through a rare high-elevation wetland above 4,000 feet. This is one of the few places on earth where ancient bog terrain exists at such high elevations, making the walk an unusual experience.
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